Bills agree to stadium deal, securing Buffalo future

Dec. 21, 2012
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Buffalo Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) hands off to running back C.J. Spiller against the Seattle Seahawks in a game in Canada. A new stadium agreement has assured that the team will stay in Buffalo until at least 2020. / Kevin Hoffman, USA TODAY Sports

by Jon Campbell, USA TODAY Sports

by Jon Campbell, USA TODAY Sports

ALBANY, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills, New York state and Erie County officials all signed off on a 10-year lease agreement Friday, ensuring the team stays in western New York while committing $130 million in upgrades to the aging Ralph Wilson Stadium.

In addition, the team and state officials will form a committee to study the possibility of building new stadium "in the next decade or so," according to Bills CEO Russ Brandon.

"We are committed to this region," Brandon said.

The 10-year agreement runs through 2023. The Bills would be forced to pay $400 million if the team is relocated before then, except for after the seventh year, when the team would have a one-time-only option to buy out the remainder of the lease for $28 million.

"This is an exciting agreement," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. "The agreement basically commits the Bills to staying at Ralph Wilson Stadium for another seven years."

The deal came together Friday after months of negotiations between the team and both state and county officials, as well as the National Football League's front office. Cuomo had met at least twice with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and helped broker the agreement.

The Bills will chip in $35 million to help renovate Ralph Wilson Stadium, the aging, county-owned stadium in Orchard Park that first opened in 1973. The state will contribute $54 million, while the county will cover the remaining $41 million.

The renovations will include a new plaza on the west side of the stadium, as well as updated concessions, bathrooms and new scoreboards.

The full terms of the lease were not immediately available. The Bills' current lease, which first took effect in 1998, was set to expire July 31.

Both Cuomo and Brandon said the agreement calls for the state, county and team to study the possibility of building a new stadium in western New York. Ralph Wilson Stadium is currently one of the oldest in the NFL.

"It also has us jointly -- the county, the state and the Bills -- exploring options for a new stadium down the road if that is financially feasible and intelligent from a development point of view," Cuomo said.